Eldkidge j



(No Model.)

E. J. SMITH. -ReoliningRo0king Chair..

M2) 75 ATTORNEYS wmqsssss N. PEIERS, Pficto'Lflhognphen Washington. D. C.

UNITED STATES ELDRIDGE J. SMITH, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO J. CLEMENT SMITH, OF SAME PLACE.

RECLINING ROCKING-CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,434, dated May 10, 1881.

Application filed February 5, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELDRIDGE J. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, resident at Washington, in the county of \Vashington and Dis- 5 trict of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inOhairs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which to it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of said drawings represents a sec-.

tional view of my chair, and Fig. 2 is a detail. This invention has relation to that class of chairs usually called base-rockers and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of devices hereinafter speci tied and pointed out in the claims.

A of the drawings represents an ordinary base for a rocking-chair, and B represents a rocker arranged thereon. The rocker is connected with the base by means of a staple, a, 2 5 secured in the base by its points or open end, while its bent and closed end is arranged in a recess, I), of the rocker, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. This staple passes around a stoppin, c, which extends through the recess 0 b at a right angle, as represented.

The letter C represents a coiled spring, secured at each end to the rocker and base, as shown. It is obvious that the stop-pin c, in conjunction with the staple a, limits the move- 3 5 ments of the rocker upon its base.

' The letter D represents a standard pivoted to the rocker atc. This standard, with its duplicate,forms the main frame of the chair-back.

E represents the cross-bar or head-rest con- 40 necting the standards or side rails, D, of the back-frame. To this cross-bar E I attach a swinging chair-back, F,which is preferably constructed of the wire-and-slat fabric described in my Letters Patent No. 198,421, dated No- 5 vember 24, 187 7. This back is united to the crossbar by staples secured in said bar, (shown atf,) into which the free ends of the wire of the fabric are bent, as shown at g, thereby formin g hinges and saving the wire from breakage, to which it is' liable when attached to said fare drawn up andtheir upper ends are bent PATENT OFFICE.

cross-bar without such hinges. To effect this construction the lower ends of the staples f are bent in hook form, and the free ends of the hooks are passed down through the upper slat of the back and clinched, as shown 'in Fig. 2. The other portion ot'the staple f is passed up through the head-rest E, which is provided with recesses g in its upper edges, and the staples down into the recesses g. This forms a secure and permanent fastenin g for the flexible f back, and the staples are not liable to be drawn out in use.

The letter Gr represents an arm of my chair pivoted tothe side rail at h, and having at its front end a pendent casting or bracket, H. Through the lower end of this bracket I pass a rod, I, which extends entirelyacross the body of the chair and unites the two brackets firmly.

The letter K represents a ratchet arranged on the curved front end of the rocker, which ratchet is formedin circular shape, as shown. The rod I is adapted to operatein this ratchet up or down at will, and thereby secure such adjustment of the chair-frame as may be desirable, said adjustment being effected by raising or lowering the arms of the chair, as the case requires.

The letter L represents a slotted plate an ranged on the rocker, and which clasps the rod I, and 'the letter n represents a thumb screw arranged in the slot of said plate. By means of this slotted plate and screw the operator is enabled to secure the rod I firmly in any space of the ratchet he may desire. At the upper end of the ratchet, and preferably formed therewith, is a lug, p, which serves to form a portion of a hinged support for the chair-seat, hereinafter mentioned. The other portion 1) of the hinged support is secured to the seat itself, as shown in Fig. 1.

The letter M represents my chair-seat, which is preferably made of the fabric described in my Patent No. 198,421, and hinged to the chairback by means of the extended free ends of the wire, united as shown on Fig. 1. This is done by forming the end of one wire into a ring or staple and securing it within the proper slat of the fabric and then bending the opposite wire into such ring or staple, as shown.

The letter V represents a cross-bar uniting the two rockers of the chair.

I am aware thatthe frames of chairs have been made adjustable by means of pawls attached to the ch air-arms and operating in ratchets arranged underneath on supporting-bars. I lay no claim to such invention; but

1 claim as my invention 1. The flexible slatted-fabric seat M, having lugs 19, the rockers B, having lugs 12, said lugs being pivoted together, as shown, in combination with the flexible slatted-fabric back F, to which said seat is hinged, audits supportingframe, substantially as specified.

2. In achair, the combination, with the backframe D, arms G, back F, and seat M, of the ratchet K, rod I, slatted plate L, and thumbscrew a, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In achair,the combination, with the back- 20 frame D and arms G, pivoted together, of the rocker B, having the curved ratchet K secured thereto, as shown, the rod I and bracket H, whereby the arms and frame may be adjusted in the desired position by raising or lowering 25 the arms, while the occupant retains his full weight upon the seat.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ELDRIDGE J. SMITH.

Witnesses:

THEo. MUNGEN, H. CLAY SMITH. 

